Dangerous goods packaging certification – allocation of UN code

Our company is entrusted by the Ministry of Transport of the Czech Republic with the testing of design types of packagings, large containers for bulk substances and large packages, the allocation of UN codes to approved design types, the control of the production and use of the above mentioned design types, IBC inspections within time deadlines set by the applicable technical standards, and in accordance with the international transportation regulations. Packaging designed for dangerous goods, in which our service is the most specialized, is very diverse in shape and material used in its production. Their properties are precisely defined in the international regulations for the packaging and transport of dangerous goods. They must conform with the prescribed requirements.

Each design type of packaging has its own code, which characterizes it in its blueprint, and is subsequently a part of the so-called UN CODE, which indicates successfully tested design types of packaging for dangerous goods.

Qualitative parameters of the packaging materials and packaging of dangerous goods are accurately outlined in the international treaties and conventions on the transport of dangerous goods, to which the Czech Republic has acceded its signature, and which are binding for the testing of packaging for dangerous goods.

It is:

• RTDG - Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UN)
• ADR - European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
• RID - Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail,
• IATA-DGR - International Air Transport Association - Dangerous Goods Regulations
• ADN - International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways

What we consider to be a dangerous item

• chemical substances and chemicals,
• dangerous waste, and
• dangerous products that can, by their properties, threaten the health and lives of people and negatively affect the surrounding environment.

Packaging are grouped:

Dangerous Goods Classes

The issuance of methodological guidelines

In accordance with these international laws and their mandatory requirements, technicians in the CIMTO, s. r. o. testing laboratory adhere to a strict methodology. This is also created in accordance with applicable technical standards, which go hand in hand with international regulations, but they have a more detailed technical nature. On the basis of the compiled methodology, the individual packaging is then tested. A list of valid tests, which are used for the initial packaging, is an integral part of the annex of the accreditation certificate.

Certification of common goods packaging

If an applicant, whether a manufacturer or a filler, needs a certified packaging that is not intended for the packaging of dangerous goods for further distribution, he may apply for certification. On the basis of the technical regulations / standards, a methodical guideline is drawn up according to which a list of tests is carried out whose nature corresponds to the verification of the mechanical properties of the packaging. For example, load capacity, stackability, cyclical lift, etc. The output of such a test is the Type Certificate.

Expert service - simulation of usual transport

In the area of common goods and its transport, we are able to create a series of test procedures from the tests that model the major transport risks and which we perform as a standard.

We are able to simulate all usual and also specific transport conditions (all usual transport loads).

For this we use up-to-dated technical knowledge, current technical regulations as wll as the relevant technical background of the laboratory.

We call this activity an expert service, and it is intended to cover the various specific customer needs beyond testing for the certification of dangerous goods packaging. These are not just the needs directly related to the transport of goods, but also, for example, designing the packaging construction or quantification of the packaging parameters (eg load capacity).

Above all, we are focused on testing and simulates these risks:

• risks of manual handling of transport packaging in transport chains
• risks of manipulation with different types of handling equipment (forklift, pallet truck, etc.)
• risks of packaging damage due to static and dynamic forces, shocks,
• storage risks
• climatic environmental risks (temperature, humidity)

We use the following tests to set up specific test procedures aimed at a wide range of our customers' needs:

• drop tests with the possibility of measuring of the impact overload
• tests on an inclined track simulating the action of horizontal forces and shocks exerted on packaging
• vertical vibration tests
• stacking (compressing) tests
• climatic tests with controlled temperature and relative humidity

and also:

• tests according to ISTA standards
• tests of FIBC
• tests of pallets
• tests of cardboard (BCT, ECT, ...)

Child resistant packaging

In recent years, there has been a development in the area of the safety of packaging for a group of the most sensitive consumers, children and the elderly. In this area CIMTO, s. r. o., offers its rich experience with the testing and certification of child-resistant packaging for many years. We are the members of working group for child resistant packaging in CEN and ISO.

The child-resistant packaging consists of a container and corresponding closure (as a finished product), which is difficult to open and whose contents are difficult to access for children in the age range of 42 to 51 months, but whose normal use is not difficult for adults. The availability of packaged content for adults is tested on the age group of 50 to 70.

According to which laws are the tests being carried out?

The testing of child-resistant packaging is carried out in accordance with valid national and European legislation:

• chemical law no. 350/2011 Sb., as amended, and
• law no. 634/1992 Sb., on consumer protection, as amended.

For child-resistant packaging testing the technical standard ČSN EN ISO 8317 is essential - (Packaging – Child-resistant packaging – Requirements and testing procedures for re-closable packages).

• this standard is part of the executive regulations of the chemical law, and therefore binding,
• specifies the requirements and test procedures for child-resistant packaging,
• is the optimal result of research on an international scale,
• applies only to the approval of the design type, but,,
• does not apply to the verification of the quality.

What is repeatedly closable packaging?

Packaging that can - after the first opening - be repeatedly closed with the same degree of resilience and is capable of repeating this cycle as many times as disposal of the entire content requires without diminishing the degree of resistance.
CIMTO, s. r. o., has this test method accredited. Part of the tests carried out directly on children and adults, in accordance with the requirements of technical standards (age, gender, number of examiners, etc.) also demonstrates tightness, thus checking whether the packaged content - the substance or mixture - does not spontaneously leak.

Inspections and leakproofness tests of IBC ́s containers

IBC containers in the original intermediate bulk containers are intended for transport and storage of dangerous liquids. We carry out testing and inspections set by international regulations.

The Road Transport Act No. 111/1994 Sb. PART III - Carriage of Dangerous Goods in Road Transport (§ 22 - § 23) states that the consignor (the person transporting dangerous goods for carriage) must use only approved and prescribed packaging for the transport of dangerous goods.

In most cases, the first inspection and leakproofness test is carried out by the manufacturer, otherwise it must be subjected before first use, at intervals not exceeding two and half years or after each repair of the IBC.

During the inspection, the conformity with the design type, including the marking, theinternal and external condition and the service life of the service equipment, shall be checked before the first putting into service and then at intervals of not more than five years, at the intervals of not exceeding two and a half years, the external condition and serviceability of the service equipment shall be checked. When testing the leak before the first use, at intervals not exceeding two and a half years, or after each repair, the airtightness of the vessel's IBC shall be verified by an air pressure of at least 20 kPa (0,2 bar) for at least 10 minutes.

After inspection and leakage tests, a report is issued. The report on each inspection and test shall be kept by the IBC holder until the next inspection or test at least.

We act on behalf of the Ministry of Transport for the certification of transport packages for dangerous goods and on the ebase of related accreditations.